Necromancer

Necromancers are adept at raising and controlling the undead, applying several conditions on an opponent, as well as controlling the area around them by placing Wells to apply soft effects to surrounding targets, or Marks to trigger more potent effects in a smaller area. Necromancers can raise and use Undead minions to attack or defend, or they can destroy the raised minion to trigger a powerful effect.

The Necromancer, like many of the professions in Guild Wars 2, can approach battle in a number of ways. Not only can he fight with melee weapons but he can also dispense sinister spells from afar. These attacks cause traditional damage and also inflict numerous conditions on enemies, including "bleeding" which rips away at health and "cripple" which slows aggressors down.

These status-inducing attacks fling from the Necromancer so readily his enemies rarely have a chance to breathe. Only when confronted with multiple attackers at once does the Necromancer face danger. Which is why he summons worms and wraiths from the underworld to assist him in battle.

From the beginning the Necromancer's default healing ability comes in the form of a summoned "Blood Fiend," which saps enemy health and feeds it into the Necromancer. Once this skill activates, it's replaced by another skill that allows him to sacrifice the Blood Fiend for a boost in health. After gaining experience, the Necromancer has access to other minions, including a pair of smaller, faster creatures and a ranged flesh worm.

Besides these summons, the Necromancer also uses Marks and Wells to control the area around him. Wells emerge around his location and affect both allies and enemies alike. Marks, alternatively, can be placed at a distance and activated at will.

One of the most intriguing things when playing as the Necromancer is his ability to absorb life force. Life force emerges from the dead and flows into the Necromancer and he moves through the world. This energy -- unique to the profession -- powers his Death Shroud ability, which enables him to cast powerful spells and summon a unique minion onto the field.

Like the other professions, the Necromancer has tremendous potential. With skilled usage of his debuffing techniques, a well-timed summon, and the Death Shroud, he can dispatch powerful foes.